Effective Resume Writing – How To Do It Right

That was the first impression I made on you. If you love cheese it was probably a bad one, but that’s how quickly a first impression can be made. It’s the same for online platforms, from dating websites, to, I don’t know… résumés!

Both are first points of contact, one between prospective employee and employer, the other between potential life partners. Both provide a snapshot of who you are, with the aim that the other party will want to strike up a conversation, a meeting, then a blissful partnership. In any case, it all comes down to the execution. Let’s look at our first hopeful unemployed/lonely heart.

Pau, I feel like we have an instant connection. You’re bright, you’re beautiful, and your Spanish accent gives me shivers. This résumé is eye catching, and is smartly designed. This is like stumbling upon a foreign man on a dating site. There may be a language barrier, but his simple, no frills approach toward things makes you feel instantly at ease. Plus there’s no harm that he’s easy on the eyes.

Then there’s Alan Dickson. This résumé is full on, in your face, leaving very little to the imagination. Being this… upfront in a dating profile wouldn’t really bode well for your romantic future. Similarly, presenting this image of yourself won’t aid your chances of gaining employment.

Instead, put your best self forward, and keep your private interests (taking photos of yourself flexing in the gym) to yourself. If I was an employee I’d laugh and keep the résumé, but I wouldn’t give Alan a call.

Though varying greatly in design and aesthetics, both résumés are similar in that they exist either on paper or digitally. Despite how interesting, creative or visually confronting they are (I’m looking at you Alan), they can still be added onto a pile with another résumé placed neatly on top.

That’s where Brennan Gleason comes in, a graphic designer hailing from Canada, who did something altogether different and displayed his résumé on the packaging of a four pack home brew, with extracts of his original work on each bottle.

Creativity is key when it comes to effective resume writing.

“I’ve always been inspired by those unconventional CVs and recently got into home brewing,” Mr Gleason said. “So I thought why not put the two together? Each bottle features a piece of work from my portfolio with a little bit of info on it. It also features a QR code linking to the project on my website.”

Brennan sent cases of beer as soon as he graduated from university, and unsurprisingly – got offered jobs soon after.

In dating this would be like organising a date and getting flowers, chocolate and wine as a reminder gift. But in an awesome, we’re going to be together forever way, not a creepy, how do you know where I live, back off psycho way. And I’m sure if Brennan was on a dating site, he wouldn’t stay single for long either.

What have I taken from exploring the wonderful world of résumés, and the sometimes not so wonderful, downright creepy world of online dating profiles? Creativity is key. And if you’re willing to woo your prospective employee/love interest with a four pack of home brew – well, that can only sweeten the deal.